Painting accessories



Feb. 18, 1958 H. A. STEWART 2,823,399

PAINTING ACCESSORIES Filed July 21, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J INVENTOR. Harold A. Sfewuri ATTORNEY Feb. 18, 1958 H. A. STEWART PAINTING ACCESSORIES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 21, 1954 INVENTOR. Harold A. Si ewor? ATTORNEY PAINTING ACCESSORIES Harold A. Stewart, Danvers, Mass.

Application July 21, 1954, Serial No. 444,715

3 Claims. (Cl. 15-1213) This invention relates in general to accessories for painting, and in particular to apparatus for use with paint containers and brushes.

Ordinary painting is done in the same way today as it has for many years, with minor exceptions. The most popular of the exceptions is the technique involving a roller and flat container for the paint. Nevertheless, most painting is still done using the traditional round can and brush. Very little has been done to improve the basic methods of utilizing a can and brush. The usual procedure is to dip the brush, draw it along the lip of the can to remove excess paint, and then apply the brush to the surface to be painted. If it is desired to lay the brush down, the only available surface is the top of the can across which the brush may be placed. These expedients are not satisfactory for numerous reasons. Drawing the brush against the lip of the can often causes damage to the bristles, especially if the lip is rough or has a sharp edge. Laying a brush across the open mouth of the can or on the top of the can will result in the bristles becoming stuck to the surface as the paint dries. Unless the brush is carefully removed by using a solvent, the bristles will be damaged and torn out as the brush is removed. Also, both drawing the brush against the lip of the can and laying a wet brush down indiscriminately cause paint to drip down the outside of the can. Thus, the surface on which the can rests becomes smeared, and the can itself can not be touched without smearing the hands of the painter.

The paint can itself leaves something to be desired in so far as handling is concerned. The usual semicircular wire handle, although it may be sufiicient when an unopened can is being carried, becomes something of a nuisance when the can is being moved after opening. Too, it is diificult to dip the brush or draw off excess paint when it is necessary that the can be held by the handle during these operations. When the usual rim on a paint can is so used it becomes filled with paint which eventually is spilled.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to simplify the technique of painting with improved containers and accessories.

It is a further object to provide an inexpensive device which permits paint containers and brushes to be handled without waste or unnecessary damage to surroundings or user.

' It is a still further object to provide a simple, inexpensive device for handling paint containers and supporting a brush during or after the actual painting operations.

It is another object to provide a device for supporting, and removing excess paint from, a brush.

It is still another object to provide a device for simplifying the technique of painting, which device is easily attached to and detached from a paint container.

In general, the present invention consists in a clamp made of wire which is attachable to a paint container. A device for engaging a portion of the wire clamp is fixed 2,823,399 Patented Feb. 18, 1958 to the handle of a paint brush. The wire clamp is made up such that it has a substantially circular portion for engaging the exterior of the paint container and a straight portion which is disposed within and across the open mouth of the container. The clamp also has a firstradial extension on which a handle is formed and a second smaller radial extension adjacent the first. A hook is formed on the first radial extension adjacent the container wall and an eye engageable by the hook is formed on the second radial extension. The resiliency of the wire clamp permits it to be first slipped over the container and then to engage the container tightly when the hook and eye are engaged. The brush is supportable within the container by means of the engagement of the straight portion of the clamp by the hanger fixed to the brush. Removable paper inserts of different sizes may be used in the container and these are held firmly in place by the wire clamp. For a better understanding of the invention,- together with other and further objects, features, and advantages, reference should be made to the following description which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the entire assembly of one embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partly cut away, of the invention as assembled for use.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a paint brush 12 which is of conventional design, except that a strip of molding 13 is attached to the handle just above the bristles. The method of attachment, and the material used for molding strip 13 do not require careful consideration. In the present embodiment, a strip of rubber is tacked to the brush handle, but numerous materials including plastic, wood or metal, for example, are suitable. The attachment may be made permanent by glue or fasteners, or a detachable clamp may be used. The shape of the strip 13 must be such that space is provided between the brush handle and a portion of strip 13 for engaging a support member for the brush.

A length of wire is formed into a substantially circular clamp 14, wiper and support bar 15, top engaging members 16 and 17, handle clasp 18, hook 19, eye 20 and thumb lever 21. This may be of one length of wire, as shown, or of several lengths properly welded. In some instances, it may be desired to use strip material in clamp 14, for example, or an attached rod on handle clasp 18. Similarly, the form and material of hook 19 and eye 20 may be varied to suit the circumstances of use.

It is necessary that the clamp 14 have sufiicient resilience that it will be open to a diameter somewhat greater than its diameter when hook 19 is engaged in eye 20, as is explained in greater detail hereinbelow.

On the wire, a plastic handle 22 is molded adjacent clasp 13 to provide a convenient and suitable shape for hand carrying. The entire device may be held by handle 22 with hook 19 disengaged from eye 20 and slipped over a container 23. Container 23 is preferably of metal or durable plastic and has an outside diameter somewhat less than that of clamp 14 in its open position. A rolled edge 24 is provided at the lip of container 23 to avoid the difliculties associated with conventional paint can rims. An annular groove 25 is formed about midway along the length of container 23. The rolled edge 24 is designed to fit within the top engaging members 16 and 17, and the annular groove is designed to accommodate the lower member of clamp 14.

Two disposable inserts 26 and 27 of heavy waxed paper are provided for use in container 23. Both of these inserts have flared edges which conform to the contour of rolled edge24 on container 23. Thus, when either insert is used, it is held firmly by the top engaging members 16 and 17. The smaller of the inserts 26 has an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of container 23 but larger than the inside diameter of annular groove 25. This permits small insert .26 .to rest uponrannulargroove 25 when .it is placed in-container23. Insert 27 has an outside diameter-sufficiently small that ,it clears annular groove 25 and fits entirely into container 23. 7

Referring now particularly to Fig. 2, an embodiment of the present invention is shown as assembled for use. Large inscrt27 has been placed in container 23 and clamp 14 has beenslipped over-container 23in its open position. The lower member of ,clamp 14 is placed in annular groove 25. Hook -19 is engaged in eye 20 by the user graspinghandle 22 and pressingthumb lever 21v to eifect the engagement. .Paint is poured into insert 27 and brush 12 may be ,dipped into the paint, excess paint being removed 'bydrawing the bristles. of brush 12 along wiper bar 15. if it is desired to lay brush 12 down when the container is quite full, this may be done by laying the brush .with' its bristles on top of support bar and the brnsh handle extending across the edge of container 23 projecting outwardly in a direction opposite to that ofhandle 22. As the paint isused, the illustrated method of support may be used. That is, strip 13 attached to paint brush 12 engages support bar 15 with the bristles of the brush pointing downwardly. If it is desired to lay the brush 12 down on a flat surface, this may be done without soiling the surface. By laying brush 12 in position with strip 13 beneath it, the weight of the handle is sulficient to cause the bristles of brush 12 to point upwardly from the surface and remain out of contact therewith.

When the painting operation is completed, cleaning solution or solvent of the desired type may be placed in .container 23 or in insert 27 and brush 12 may be su pended by strap 13 on support bar 15 with its bristles in the solution. The height of container 23 and the size of brush 12 may be chosen so that the bristles of brush 12 do not touch the bottom of the can and are thereby kept from becoming misshapen. In this use of the invention for cleaning, the clamp 14 may be moved upwardly on container 23 to lift the brush to any desired level. Although annular groove 25 insures firm holding of container 23 by clamp 14, it is not necessary that it be used, since clamp 14 engages container 23 with sufiicient strength to vgive adequate support. In this connection, it should be noted that clamp 14 may be simply adapted to use with a conventional paint can of the proper diameter.

The firm holding of container 23, or any other container used with clamp 14, is further assured by the fact that top engaging members 16 and 17 tend to grasp the container more firmly when hook 19 is engaged by eye 20. This is particularly true in embodiments of the invention such as illustrated where a single length of wire is used to form the entire clamping member. Inserts 26 and 27 being of waxed paper and having flared edges conforming with rolled edge 24, are firmly locked into container 23 by top engaging members 16 and 17 without difiiculty because of the thinness of the material and its ability to be compressed between those members and rolled edge 24.

While what has been disclosed is a preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications will suggest 4 themselves to those skilled in the art. Such modifications are believed to be within the basic concepts of the invention which should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Painting equipment comprising, a cylindrical paint container having an open end and an annular groove formed in the wall thereof substantially midway along its length, a disposable paper insert lining said container, said insert having a flared edge conforming to the open end of said container, a-wire clamp, a first part of said clamp being engaged in said annular groove, a second part of said clamp passing axially of said container and being bent back upon itself within said open end to form loops for locking said paper insert to said container, a third part of said clamp being a straight section passing across and within said open end, a paint brush,

a molded strip being attached to said paint brush and forming a U.-shaped enclosure therewith, said enclosure cooperating with said straight section of said clamp to support said brush upright in said container, a fourth part ofsaid clamp includingmeans for locking said clamp in position and having a portion thereof extending outwardly from said container, and a handle formed on said outward extending portion for lifting said container.

2. Apparatus as in .claim 1 wherein said paper insert has an=outside diametergreater than the inside diameter of said annular groove but less than the inside diameter of said container. a

3. Painting equipment comprising, a cylindrical paint container having an open end witha rolled edge and an annular. groove formed in the wall thereof substantially midway along its length, a paper insert having a flared edge conforming in shape to said rolled edge, said paper insert having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said annular groove and being of substantially the same height as said-container, acontinuous wire clamp having a plurality of sections thereof, two of said sections being arcuate in form .andlengaging .the major portionof said annular groove, another two sections of said clamp also being arcuate in form .and parallel to said first-mentioned two ,arcuate sections engaging a portionof the cylindrical wall of said container, said clamp having a reentrant section .engaging .the open of said container and passing in a straightline .acrossand within said container, a paint brush, a strip having ahookshaped cross-section attached to said paintbrush for engaging said reentrant section, said clamp also having a radially outwardly-extending sectionand a hook-and-eye formed at the .ends .of said wire clamp whereby said .container maybe, resiliently engagedand transported ,by said outwardly extending section ofsaid clamp.

References Cited in the file-of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS- Great Britain Dec. 16, 

